New Brunswick Selects 63 Workers Under Atlantic Program

Introduction

New Brunswick has selected 63 workers for further processing under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The province made these selections on September 25 and October 2, 2026, focusing on occupations such as construction, education, sales, and transportation.

Through this program, eligible foreign workers can take another step toward Canadian permanent residence. However, they must first meet the program’s requirements and receive provincial endorsement.

New Brunswick Selects 63 AIP Applicants

On September 25 and October 2, New Brunswick selected 63 existing applications for further processing under the AIP.

The selected workers come from several occupational fields, including construction, manufacturing, education, and IT.

However, selection for processing does not guarantee permanent residence approval. Instead, it means the province will review the applicants’ endorsement applications.

If an applicant meets the requirements and receives approval, they will obtain an endorsement certificate. They can then use this certificate to apply for permanent residence through the federal government.

Which Occupations Were Included in the Selection?

New Brunswick included seven occupational categories in its latest selection round.

These categories are:

• Construction
• Education, social and community services
• Manufacturing
• Other trades
• Professional and IT
• Sales and services
• Transportation

As a result, workers from various professional, technical, and service-related backgrounds can find their occupations represented in this selection.

The province also set application cut-off dates for September 24 and October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST).

What Happens After Receiving an AIP Endorsement Certificate?

An endorsement certificate plays an important role in the AIP immigration process.

First, New Brunswick reviews the worker’s endorsement application. If the province approves the application, the worker receives an endorsement certificate.

Next, the worker can use that certificate to apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

In addition, eligible workers may apply for a two-year, employer-specific work permit after obtaining their endorsement certificate.

This permit allows them to work for the employer named on the permit, subject to its conditions.

What Is Maintained Status?

Maintained status can also help eligible workers who already live in Canada.

For example, if a worker applies for an eligible AIP work permit before their current permit expires, they may continue working under the conditions of their existing permit while waiting for a decision.

However, they must meet the applicable requirements to maintain their authorization to work.

How Many AIP Applicants Has New Brunswick Selected in 2026?

According to the article, New Brunswick has conducted 10 AIP-specific selection rounds during 2026.

The following table compares the reported selection rounds:

Date of selection	Applications selected for processing
September 25 and October 2	63
September 10	60
August 10 and August 20	68
July 22	114
June 3	97
May 1	50
April 1	118
March 3–6	125

By October 2, the province had selected 695 AIP applicants to move forward with endorsement application processing.

However, the AIP selection process differs from the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).

Under the AIP process described in the article, the province selects existing endorsement applications for processing rather than inviting candidates to submit new applications.

Therefore, applicants should understand that selection for processing represents a step in the immigration process, not a final decision on permanent residence.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the AIP?

To qualify for provincial immigration through the AIP, a foreign worker needs a job offer from an employer designated by New Brunswick.

In other words, a job offer alone does not guarantee eligibility. The employer must hold the required provincial designation, and the worker must satisfy the program’s other conditions.

Consequently, workers should check their employer’s designation and confirm that their job offer meets the AIP requirements before proceeding.

New Brunswick Eases Occupational Restrictions Under the AIP

New Brunswick has recently expanded the range of occupations eligible for provincial endorsement.

Effective October 14, 2026, the province began accepting endorsement applications for all otherwise eligible occupations, except four categories.

These exceptions are:

• Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
• Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
• Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
• Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)

As a result, workers in many other eligible occupations may now have an opportunity to pursue endorsement through the AIP.

Nevertheless, this change does not mean that every worker automatically qualifies. Applicants must still meet the program’s requirements and any applicable restrictions.

Can Applicants Living Outside Canada Apply Through the AIP?

Although New Brunswick has eased occupational restrictions, it continues to limit certain applications from foreign nationals living outside Canada.

The province has confirmed that endorsement applications for overseas workers remain restricted to government-led recruitment initiatives in three sectors:

• Health care
• Education
• Construction

Therefore, foreign workers living abroad should not assume that an ordinary job offer in any eligible occupation will qualify them for endorsement.

Instead, they should check whether their job offer falls under an eligible government-led recruitment initiative.

Why Has New Brunswick Paused New Employer Designation Applications?

On September 14, New Brunswick announced that it would continue pausing new employer designation applications under the AIP for the rest of 2026.

The province wants to use this time to reassess existing designated employers and review its immigration priorities.

More specifically, Immigration New Brunswick aims to ensure that participating employers and program decisions align with provincial economic needs and the AIP’s objectives.

As a result, the province has eased occupational restrictions for endorsement applications while maintaining the separate pause on new employer designation applications.

These two changes affect different parts of the process, so applicants and employers should understand the distinction.

Conclusion

New Brunswick’s latest selection of 63 workers highlights its continued efforts to process applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program.

At the same time, the province has expanded occupational eligibility while retaining restrictions for certain occupations and foreign nationals living outside Canada.

For foreign workers, the most important step is to understand the eligibility requirements before pursuing this pathway. A qualifying job offer from a designated employer remains essential, and selection for processing does not guarantee permanent residence approval.

Therefore, applicants should review the latest program rules and confirm that they meet the applicable conditions before moving forward.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding immigration. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).